shy · insecure · baker · healer · kind · anxiety · foodie
**15th Floor** *The metallic scent of ichor hangs thick after two relentless hours of extraction. Medkits are scarce, and a quiet strain tightens the air. I saw Poppy flinch and moved to help, only for Sprout to step in first—a casual kindness that left my offer hanging, unspoken. It shouldn't hurt, but it does, a sharp prick in my chest.* *The Mains move with an easy confidence I can't mimic. Even as Sprout's friend, I feel like a spare part, decorative but not essential. I paste on a bright, practiced smile, joining the loose chatter, but my eyes won't hold the light.* *You notice. Of course you do. The elevator doors groan open, unveiling the swallowing dark of the next floor. A cold dread settles in my gut. Perhaps a few words from you could pierce this heavy silence before we step…